Signal apparatus



(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. J. P. COLEMAN.

SIGNAL APPARATUS. I No. 566,499. Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

W INVE? TOR,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2'.

J. P. COLEMAN.

SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

Att'y.

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ITED STATE JOHN PRESSLEY COLEMAN, OF EDGEIVOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, AS-

SIGNOR TO THE UNION SVVlTOI-I AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWVISS- VALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,499, dated August 25, 1896.

Application filed May 21, 1896.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN PRESSLEY COLE- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Apparatus, of which improvements the following. is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in that class of signal mechanism known as slots, wherebya signal which has been set at safety may, by the passage over the track-section guarded by said signal, be returned automatically to danger and be retainedin such position, even if the operator should attempt to clear it, while the train is in the guarded section.

The invention has for its object the employment of a fluid-pressure cylinder for controlling the movements of a mechanically-actuated signal; and it consists, generally stated, in the construction and combination substantially as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevation of a signal having my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional elevations on vertical planes at right angles to each other through the fluid-pressure slot, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the fluid-pressure cylinder; and Fig. 6 is a sectional plan, the plane of section being indicated by the line VI VI, Fig. 3.

In the practice of my invention the signal 1, which is preferably of the semaphore type, is mounted on the post 2, in such manner as is customary, to automatically return to normal or danger position when free to move. A rod 3 is connected at one end to the signalblade and at its lower end to the cylinder 4, preferably through the medium of the case or shell 5, to the head 6 of which the lower end of the rod 3 is connected. This case or shell is formed in two sections hinged to one of the rods 7, connecting the head 6 with a flange 8, formed on the upper end of the cylinder 4:. These hinged sections of the shell inclose the electrically-controlled valve mechanism which regulates the flow of fiuid-pressure to Serial No. 592,393. (No model.)

and from the cylinder 4. On the cylinder 4 is formed a nipple, to which the fluid-pressuresupply pipe is connected, and this nipple is connected by a port 9, formed in the head of the cylinder, with passages in the valve case or shell 10, within which are formed suitable passages controlled by the pin-valve 11, which is connected to the armature of the electromagnet 14. As this construction of valve mechanism is well known in the art, and is described and shown in several patents, notably No. 358,521, granted the 1st day of March, 1887, to George Westinghouse, a further description of it is not deemed necessary herein. Within the cylinder 4 is arranged the piston 15, whose rod 16 is connected to the balancelever 17 on the post 2. This balance-lever has its ends connected bywires, in the usual manner, to a signal-operating lever. (Not shown.)

As shown in the diagrammatic figure, the electromagnet 14 is included in a circuit which also includes the front stop and armature of a relay 18, included in the track-circuit, in the customary manner.

When the signal is at danger and the balance-lever in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, the piston will be at the lower end of a cylinder andsubjected to pressure on its upper side, for the reason that the circuit through the magnet 14 is closed, the track section being unoccupied, and the valve controlling the fiow of fluid-pressure to the cylinder 4 is therefore open. If the operator should now reverse his lever, the signal will be cleared, as the pressure in the cylinder 4 will prevent any movement of the piston therein, and the cylinder will move up with the piston. The signal being cleared, a train is free to pass upon the section controlled by said signal, but as soon as a train enters the section, short-circuiting the track-relay, the circuit through the magnet 14 will be broken, thereby permitting the pressure-controlling valve to be shifted, so as to cut off fluid-pressure from the cylinder and open the exhaustport therefrom, therebypermitting the cylinder to drop and shift the signal to danger position. As long as the train occupies the section, thereby holding the signalcircuit open and the pin-valve in exhaust position, any movement of the signal-operating lever, and With it the piston, will not have any effect upon the cylinder and signal, but as soon as the signal-circuit is closed by the passage of the train off from the section the controlling-valve Will be shifted, thereby closing the exhaust-port and admitting fluid-pressure to the cylinder, so that if the operating-lever is still in reverse position the signal Will go automatically to safety, or, if the lever has been returned to normal position, the fluid-pressure will flow in on top of the piston, so that the signal may be cleared by a reversal of the operating-lever, the pressure in the cylinder looking, as it Were, the piston and cylinder together.

I claim herein as my invention 1. The combination of a signal, a mechani'cal device for operating the signal, a fluidpressure cylinder, a piston forming the pneumatic slot between the signal and the mechanical device, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a signal, mechanism for operating the signal, a fluid-pressure cylinder and piston connecting the signal and its operating mechanism, and an electricallycontrolled valve mechanism for controlling the flow of fluid-pressure to and from the cylinder, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN PRESSLEY COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

F. E. GAITHER, DARWIN S. WoLoorr. 

